Tag: 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Brianna Navarrosa’s long day at Chambers Bay carries her into quarterfinals

The USC star had a monumental day in securing a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Making a long day even longer, Thursday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur endured a weather delay, but when the fog finally cleared the final eight players emerged at Chambers Bay from the tournament’s only double-session day.

And although 21-year-old Brianna Navarrosa had to be tired when she was finally done, the USC standout had a monumental day in securing a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals in University Place, Washington.

In the early wave of play, the San Diego product topped Stanford’s NCAA champion Rachel Heck, then she came out of an intense battle against fourth-seeded Kelsey Bennett from Australia.

The match between Navarrosa and Bennett saw 11 lead changes with neither player having more than a 1-up advantage. Bennett buried a big putt on the 17th hole to extend the match and then dropped an 8-foot birdie putt on 18 to send the match to extra holes.

Navarrosa prevailed, however, when Bennett made bogey on the third extra hole and she managed par.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Navarrosa. “I play again tomorrow [Friday]. I haven’t made it this far, and I think my game is the best where it’s been in a very long time, so I’m very happy with that.”

Competitors walk down the fairway on the first hole as fog shrouds some of the golf course during the round of 32 at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Others who advanced included Annabel Wilson of Ireland, who beat Julia Misemer and Katie Li.

“I like how I’m striking it. Then I’m rolling the putts in, so I’m confident in my game,” said Wilson. “We play a lot of match play with Golf Ireland, and I think what I’ve learned over the years is match play is all swinging momentum, and you can’t let it get to you. You’ve just got to play your game.”

New Mexico junior Lauren Lehigh, Princeton freshman Catherine Rao, 21-year-old Monet Chun of Canada, 17-year-old Saki Baba of Japan, 16-year-old Leigh Chien of Irvine, California, and 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Florida, are the others to reach the quarters, which start at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time).

The semifinals will be Saturday and the 36-hole final is set for Sunday.

TV schedule

Friday, Aug. 12, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Saturday, Aug. 13, 3-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Sunday, Aug. 14, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

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U.S. Women’s Amateur: 13-year-old Alice Ziyi Zhao, the second-youngest player in the field, shares co-medalist honors at Chambers Bay

Match play begins Wednesday.

Alice Ziyi Zhao is unlike many 13 year olds.

Others are salvaging the final days of their summers, spending time at the pool or doing whatever to distract themselves of the impending return to school this fall. Zhao, however, is dominating one of the premier women’s amateur golf events in the world.

Zhao earned co-medalist honors at the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. After 36 holes of stroke play, Zhao sat at 10-under 136, tied with Latanna Stone and Laney Frye. The trio will occupy the top three seeds when match play begins Wednesday with the round of 64.

Stone earned the first seed for match play after firing a 8-under 65, a new women’s competitive record at Chambers Bay.

“Just like yesterday, everything was working well,” Stone said. “I was hitting the ball great and putted really well. Putting kind of saved me a little bit today. But it’s just fairways and greens and keeping it simple. I’m really pumped for match play. I think I can play really aggressive – even more aggressive than I did in stroke play. Yeah, I’m excited.”

Zhao, who shot 6-under 67 in the opening round, was 4 under on Tuesday. Frye was consistent, shooting two rounds of 5-under 68.

Stone will be the top-seeded player in match play, with Zhao earning the second seed and Frye the third.

“I had a couple of mistakes, but otherwise I played pretty solid today,” Zhao, from China, said. “I think I missed two short birdie putts. I really like match play, so hopefully I can put together another couple good rounds.”

Defending champion Jensen Castle, who will be a senior at Kentucky, shot 4-under 69 in the second round to finish in a tie for 14th after stroke play. Rachel Heck, the top-ranked player in the field, finished tied for 46th at 2 over. Megha Ganne, an incoming freshman at Stanford, is in a tie for fourth at 7 under.

Stroke play isn’t quite over yet, however. There was an 8-for-4 playoff to determine the final match play spots that began on the par-4 10th hole. Jieni Li, Jennifer Rosenberg and Camryn Carreon all made par to qualify. Alice Hodge was eliminated with a double bogey, and Victoria Zheng, Julia Misemer, Emma Abramson and Anika Dy made bogey to move on to the second playoff hole.

Playing the par-3 17th, all but Abramson made par, and the playoff was suspended due to darkness. It will resume at 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday with Zheng, Misemer and Dy playing the par-5 18th hole to determine who earns the final match play spot.

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Photos: 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay

The 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur got underway Monday at Chambers Bay.

The 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur got underway Monday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington.

156 golfers from around the world are vying for one of the biggest amateur prizes in women’s golf. The course, which hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, will be played as a par 73 measuring 6,541 yards. The first two days will be stroke play, and the top 64 will advance to match play, which begins Wednesday.

There will be television coverage beginning Wednesday through the end of the championship. Live scoring can be found here.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay:

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5 things to know about the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay

Chambers Bay is a different course than when it hosted the 2015 U.S. Open.

The 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur is set to begin Monday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. 156 of the best female amateur golfers in the world are in the Pacific Northwest to try and capture one of the biggest prizes in women’s amateur golf.

The course, which hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, will be played as a par 73 measuring 6,541 yards. There will be 36 holes of stroke play with the top 64 players advancing to match play. The champion will be decided in a 36-hole match on Sunday, August 14.

Defending champion Jensen Castle, a senior at Kentucky, is back to defend her title. She went on a historic run last year after surviving a 12-for-2 playoff just to make it to match play, winning it all as the 63rd seed.

The 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur begins at 10 a.m. ET Monday with the first 18 holes of stroke play. Players will go off split tees in two waves with the second group beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

Here are five things to know about the U.S. Women’s Amateur: